up or down indicates a change in Political Rights, Civil Liberties, or Status since the last survey. In the Table, click
on the number preceding the arrow for an explanation of the rating and/or status change in the selected country. A rating
of 1 represents the most free and 7 the least free rating.

Trend Arrows indicate general positive or negative trends since the previous survey that are not
necessarily reflected in the raw points and do not warrant a ratings change.

*The ratings in this table reflect global events from 1 December 2004 through
30 November 2005.

Criteria for designation as an Electoral Democracy

1. A competitive, multiparty political system.

2. Universal adult suffrage for all citizens (with exceptions
for restrictions that states may legitimately place on citizens as sanctions for criminal offenses).

3. Regularly contested elections conducted in conditions
of ballot secrecy, reasonable ballot security, and the absence of massive voter fraud that yields results that are unrepresentative
of the public will.

4. Significant public access of major political parties
to the electorate through the media and through generally open political campaigning.

Burundi: Political Rights improved (from 5 to 3) due to fair
and competitive elections at the local and national levels and a successful rotation of power. The nation was also designated
as an electoral democracy in this survey.

Central African Republic: Both Political Rights and Civil Liberties
improved (Political Rights from 6 to 5; Civil Liberties from 5 to 4) due to successful elections and an improvement in
freedoms of expression and assembly. These improvements were significant enough to improve the nation's status from "Not Free"
to "Partly Free". The Central African Republic was also designated as an electoral democracy in this survey.

Congo-Brazzaville: Civil Liberties declined (from 4 to 5) due
to a steady erosion of the rule of law, including the failure of the courts to sanction high ranking military officials for
a massacre of refugees.

Gabon: Political Rights declined (from 5 to 6) because of flawed,
uncompetitive elections and continuing military influence over the electoral process.

The Gambia: Political Rights declined (from 4 to 5) because
of the failure to allow the opportunity for a rotation of power in the lead-up to elections in 2006.

Ghana: Political Rights improved (from 2 to 1) due to fair
and competitive presidential and parliamentary elections and a general maturing of the country's electoral institutions.

Guinea-Bissau: Political Rights improved (from 4 to 3) because
of elections deemed fair and competitive. The nation was also designated an electoral democracy in this survey.

Liberia: Political Rights improved (from 5 to 4) because of
fair and competitive elections for the presidency and legislature. The nation was also designated as an electoral democracy
in this survey.

Mauritania: Due to an enhancement of the civil liberties environment
following the overthrow of President [Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed] Taya, Mauritania's civil liberties rating improved (from 5 to
4). These improvements were significant enough to improve the nation’s status from "Not Free" to "Partly Free".

Namibia: Civil Liberties increased (from 3 to 2) due to improvements
in the rule of law.